Accrington bully pulled man's testicles during assault

Jody Campbell, 39, of Russell Street, Accrington, had previously “taken over” the victim’s house and was “bullying him,” prosecutor Amanda Johnson told Preston Crown Court. 

She said the victim and a friend, who had taken him in after he left the previous house because of Campbell’s actions, were at a Tesco petrol station in Accrington shortly after midnight on June 17. 

Jody Campbell (Image: Lancashire Police)

As they walked towards the cash machine, Campbell approached the pair and when he recognised the victim, he began “prodding and poking” him and demanded to know where he had been and why he had been ignoring him. 

When the victim did not answer, Campbell reached into the victim’s shorts, grabbed his testicles, and pulled down, causing a 5cm laceration. 

Campbell then ran from the scene. 

When arrested, he was interviewed and made no comment. 

Campbell was also being sentenced for possessing weapons during an incident on May 6. 

Police were called to a disturbance in Wellington Street, Accrington, and when they arrived an officer sighted Campbell brandishing a golf club. 

He ran off and was pursued by officers, who then noticed a knife had been discarded on the floor near to where he’d been. 

Campbell ran into an address in Wellington Street and was found shortly after hiding under a bed. 

He told police when interviewed that two unknown men had attended his house so he went out with the weapons for his own protection. 

Simon Gurney, mitigating, said Campbell had been a lifelong abuser of heroin, which had “motivated all of his criminality.” 

He said the period in prison on remand has been “beneficial” for Campbell. 

Preston Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

He added: “He tells me he’s motivated to change, but only he can prove that.” 

Campbell, who has 26 previous convictions for 42 offences, admitted all charges. 

Judge Darren Preston said: “I’m sure you’re determined to rid yourself of your long-standing drug problem.

"But I’m equally sure you promised to be reforming yourself many other times before, because many other times before you’ve been given community orders and suspended sentences, and you’ve breached just about every one of them. 

“Search as he might, Mr Gurney couldn’t find any mitigation save for your guilty pleas, and it’s true, there is precious little mitigation other than this in your case.” 

Campbell was sentenced to 27 months in prison.